Storage bag air extractor having monitoring function

ABSTRACT

A storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function includes: a housing; a power input unit used for inputting a DC power source; a power switch; a voltage boosting circuit; a current detecting unit used for detecting a current; a controlling unit used for receiving an analog voltage value outputted by the current detecting unit and converted into a digital voltage value, wherein a voltage threshold value is determined after a calculating operation; a motor switch used for performing a switching operation according to a level of the voltage threshold value; a motor used for performing an air extracting operation to a storage bag externally connected; and at least one indicating unit capable of displaying a flash lighting signal or a constant lighting signal with respect to the analog voltage value, after being converted, being smaller or greater than the voltage threshold voltage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage bag air extractor, especially to a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional storage bag air extractor is used for extracting air inside a storage bag so as to be in a vacuum status, so that the volume of the storage bag can be reduced for allowing the storage bag to be easily stored or carried around.

The Taiwan Patent Registration No. M275192 has disclosed a three-dimensional vacuum compression bag, which is consisted of a three-dimensional compression bag, a sealing member and a foldable storage box, and characterized in that: a bag opening of the three-dimensional compression bag has an opening sealing part, an air extractor is provided to the three-dimensional compression bag, the foldable storage box is disposed in the three-dimensional compression bag, clothes are disposed in the foldable storage box, and the sealing member is used for sealing the opening sealing part, and a vacuum cleaner is used for extracting air for allowing a bag member to be in a vacuum status through the air extractor provided to the three-dimensional compression bag, thereby achieving effects of saving space and prevented the clothes from having wrinkles or being deformed.

The Taiwan Patent Registration No. M349384 has disclosed a three-dimensional self-adhering type vacuum storage bag, which utilizes an self-adhering function to assist the three-dimensional design, thereby greatly increasing the storage amount, and advantages of saving space and arranging location are provided after a bag member being stored; the bag member disclosed in this invention is not only provided with designs of the self-adhering function and an self-adhering inner membrane protecting sheet, the air extracting bag is also provided and arranged at a lower portion of the bag member, so that a maximum storage space can be almost achieved, air existed in the space and the contained objects can be directly extracted, thereby allowing the volume of the storage bag to be smaller, and achieving effects of having the maximum storage capacity and the smallest volume and easy to be stored and arranged.

The Taiwan Patent Registration No. M332635 has disclosed a vacuum type storage air extractor, in which an air extractor is disposed in an air extracting housing, a top end thereof is provided with an air discharging port, wherein with a covering port disposed at a lower end thereof working with a corresponding air valve of a container or an air valve of a storage bag, the covering port is able to be mounted in the corresponding air valve, and an airtight pad is provided for increasing an airtight level, a switch device disposed on a handle is used for turning on the air extractor for extracting air inside the container, so that the expire date of objects stored in the container can be prolonged, and air inside the storage bag can be extracted for reducing the volume of objects stored in the storage bag, thereby achieving functions of prolonging the expire date and effectively arranging space.

However, the above-mentioned patent registrations are not provided with a function of detecting a current varying level of a DC motor during an air extracting process or enabling a controlling unit to perform an analysis to the data of air extracting amount for determining whether an air extracting operation to be continued or not.

In views of the disadvantages existed in the technology of conventional air extractor, the present invention provides a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function for improving the above-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One primary objective of the present invention is to provide a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function, which has a voltage boosting circuit for boosting a direct current (DC) to a second voltage level.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function, which has a current detecting unit used for detecting a current.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function, which has a controlling unit, capable of receiving an analog voltage value outputted by a current detecting unit and converted into a digital voltage value, and a voltage threshold value is determined after a calculating operation.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function, which has a motor switch capable of performing a switching operation according to a voltage threshold value.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function, which has at least one indicating unit; when a current detecting unit detects that an analog voltage value, after being converted, is smaller than a voltage threshold voltage, the indicating unit is served to display a flash lighting signal; and when the current detecting unit detects that the analog voltage value, after being converted, is greater than the voltage threshold value, the indicating unit is served to display a constant lighting signal.

For achieving said objectives, one technical solution provided by the present invention is to provide a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function, which includes: a housing, having a first opening, a second opening, a first hole and a second hole; a power input unit, disposed in the housing, exposed out from the first opening, and used for inputting a direct current (DC) power source; a power switch, disposed in the housing, exposed out from the second opening, and used for turning on or turning off the DC power source; a voltage boosting circuit, disposed in the housing, and one end thereof coupled with the power switch, and used for boosting the DC power source to a second voltage level; a current detecting unit, disposed in the housing, one end thereof coupled with the voltage boosting circuit, and used for detecting a current; a controlling unit, disposed in the housing, one end thereof respectively coupled with the power switch and the current detecting unit, and used for receiving an analog voltage value outputted by the current detecting unit and converted into a digital voltage value, wherein a voltage threshold value is determined after a calculating operation; a motor switch, disposed in the housing, one end thereof respectively coupled with the current detecting unit and the controlling unit, and used for performing a switching operation according to a level of the voltage threshold value; a motor, disposed in the housing, and one end thereof coupled with the motor switch, wherein when the motor is actuated, the motor is used for performing an air extracting operation to a storage bag externally connected to the first hole; and at least one indicating unit, disposed in the housing, and exposed out from the second hole, wherein when the current detecting unit detects that the analog voltage value, after being converted, is smaller than the voltage threshold voltage, the indicating unit is served to display a flash lighting signal; and when the current detecting unit detects that the analog voltage value, after being converted, is greater than the voltage threshold value, the indicating unit is served to display a constant lighting signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view illustrating the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is another perspective view illustrating the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an operating status of the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer from FIG. 1 to FIG. 2b , wherein FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2a is a perspective view illustrating the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2b is another perspective view illustrating the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in figures, the present invention discloses a storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function, which includes: a housing 10; a power input unit 20; a power switch 30; a voltage boosting circuit 40; a current detecting unit 50; a controlling unit 60; a motor switch 70; a motor 80; and at least one indicating unit 90.

The housing 10 is made of an insulation material, for example but not limited to a plastic material, and the shape thereof is, for example but not limited to, a columnar shape. The housing 10 is used for accommodating the power input unit 20, the power switch 30, the voltage boosting circuit 40, the current detecting unit 50, the controlling unit 60, the motor switch 70, the motor 80 and the at least one indication unit 80. The housing 10 further has a first opening 11, a second opening 12, a first hole 15 and a second hole 16, wherein, the first hole 15 is formed with a plurality of threads (not shown in figures) therein.

The power input unit 20 is disposed in the housing 10, exposed out from the first opening 11, and used for inputting a direct current (DC) power source, wherein, the power input unit 20 is, for example but not limited to, a Micro USB 5V DC power source.

The power switch 30 is disposed in the housing 10, exposed out from the second opening 12, and used for turning on or turning off the DC power source.

The voltage boosting circuit 40 is disposed in the housing 10, and one end thereof is coupled with the power switch 30, and used for boosting the DC power source to a second voltage level, wherein, the second voltage level is, for example but not limited to, DC 6˜12V, thereby being suitable to be applied to various types of DC motors with different working voltages.

The current detecting unit 50 is disposed in the housing 10, one end thereof is coupled with the voltage boosting circuit 30, and used for detecting a current.

The controlling unit 60 is disposed in the housing 10, one end thereof is respectively coupled with the power switch 30 and the current detecting unit 50, and used for receiving an analog voltage value outputted by the current detecting unit 50 and converted into a digital voltage value, and a voltage threshold value is determined after a calculating operation, wherein, the controlling unit 60 is, for example but not limited to, a microcontroller, and a memory (not shown in figures) is disposed in the controlling unit 60, and the memory is provided a built-in program used for calculating and determining the voltage threshold valve, wherein, the built-in program is, for example but not limited to, a sample variation method, a method of calculating average value after eliminating extreme values, an method of calculating average valve, a matrix method or a comparing method, which is used for processing digital data so as to calculate and determine the voltage threshold valve.

The motor switch 70 is disposed in the housing 10, one end thereof is respectively coupled with the current detecting unit 50 and the controlling unit 60, and used for performing a switching operation according to a level of the voltage threshold value.

The motor 80 is disposed in the housing 10, and one end thereof is coupled with the motor switch 70. When the motor 80 is actuated, the motor 80 can be used for performing an air extracting operation to a storage bag 100 externally connected to the first opening 14.

The at least one indicating unit 90 is disposed in the housing 10, and exposed out from the second hole 16, wherein, the indicating unit 90 is, for example but not limited to, a light emitting diode unit capable of emitting various colors of light.

In addition, according to the present invention, the housing 10 further has a third opening 13 and a plurality of third holes 18, wherein the plural third holes 18 can be used for facilitating air flowing when the air extracting operation is performed.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function further includes a power output unit 110, which is disposed in the housing 10, exposed out from the third opening 13, and used for outputting the DC power source which can be supplied to an air suction device, a smart phone or a tablet computer.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function further includes a printed circuit board (not shown in figures), which is disposed in the housing 10, and used for allowing the power input unit 20, the power switch 30, the voltage boosting circuit 40, the current detecting unit 50, the controlling unit 60, the motor switch 70 and the indicating unit 90 to be disposed thereon.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function further includes a combing base 120. At least one thread 121 is formed at a front end of the combing base 120, thereby allowing the storage bag 100 to be screwed and fastened in the first hole 15.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a schematic view illustrating an operating status of the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As show in FIG. 3, when the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function provided by the present invention is in an operating status, the storage bag 100 is screwed and fastened in the first hole 15 via the combing base 120; then the power switch 30 is pressed; the voltage boosting circuit 40 is used for boosting the 5V DC power source to the 6˜12V DC power source so as to be outputted to the current detecting unit 50, meanwhile the controlling unit 60 is used for turning on the motor switch 70 to enable the motor 80 to rotate, thereby allowing the air extracting operation to be performed to the storage bag; at the same time, the current detecting unit 50 is used for detecting a current varying level of the motor 80, which is in an operating status, during the air extracting operation, and the current varying level is outputted to the controlling unit 60 in an analog voltage value fashion, the analog voltage value is converted into the digital voltage value, and the voltage level is determined after the calculating operation; when the current detecting unit 50 detects that the analog voltage value, after being converted, is smaller than the voltage threshold voltage (which indicates a status of air not being fully filled), the indicating unit 90 is served to display a flash lighting signal, for example but not limited to, a green flash lighting signal; when the current detecting unit 50 detects that the analog voltage value, after being converted, is greater than the voltage threshold value (which indicates a status of air being fully provided), the indicating unit 90 is served to display a constant lighting signal, and the controlling unit 60 is served to turn off the motor switch 70 so as to stop the air extracting operation; if a user determines that the air filling level is not enough, the power switch 30 can be turned on again for restarting an air filling operation until a desired air filling status is achieved, the indicating unit 90 is served to display the constant lighting signal, and then the controlling unit 60 is served to turn off the motor switch 70. As such, according to the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function provided by the present invention, the current varying level of the DC motor is able to be detected during an air extracting process, so that the controlling unit is able to perform an analysis to the air extracting amount for determining whether the air extracting operation to be continued or not; accordingly, the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function provided by the present invention can effectively improve disadvantages existed in the conventional air extractor.

Based on what has been mentioned above, an advantage achieved by the storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function provided by the present invention while being compared to the conventional air extractor is as follows: the current varying level of the DC motor is able to be detected during the air extracting process, so that the controlling unit is able to perform an analysis to the air extracting amount for determining whether the air extracting operation to be continued or not. Accordingly, the storage bag air extractor having monitoring function provided by the present invention is novel and more practical in use comparing to the conventional air extractor.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific examples of the embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage bag air extractor having a monitoring function, including: a housing, having a first opening, a second opening, a first hole and a second hole; a power input unit, disposed in said housing, exposed out from said first opening, and used for inputting a DC power source; a power switch, disposed in said housing, exposed out from said second opening, and used for turning on or turning off said DC power source; a voltage boosting circuit, disposed in said housing, one end thereof coupled with said power switch, and used for boosting said DC power source to a second voltage level; a current detecting unit, disposed in said housing, one end thereof coupled with said voltage boosting circuit, and used for detecting a current; a controlling unit, disposed in said housing, one end thereof respectively coupled with said power switch and said current detecting unit, and used for receiving an analog voltage value outputted by said current detecting unit and converted into a digital voltage value, wherein a voltage threshold value is determined after a calculating operation; a motor switch, disposed in said housing, one end thereof respectively coupled with said current detecting unit and said controlling unit, and used for performing a switching operation according to a level of said voltage threshold value; a motor, disposed in said housing, and one end thereof coupled with said motor switch, wherein when said motor is actuated, said motor is used for performing an air extracting operation to a storage bag externally connected to said first hole; and at least one indicating unit, disposed in said housing, and exposed out from said second hole, wherein when said current detecting unit detects that said analog voltage value, after being converted, is smaller than said voltage threshold voltage, said indicating unit is served to display a flash lighting signal; and when said current detecting unit detects that said analog voltage value, after being converted, is greater than said voltage threshold value, said indicating unit is served to display a constant lighting signal.
 2. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing further has a third opening and a plurality of third holes, and said plurality of third holes are used for facilitating air flowing when said air extracting operation is performed.
 3. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 2, further including a power output unit, disposed in said housing, exposed out from said third opening, and used for outputting said DC power source.
 4. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlling unit is a microcontroller, a memory is disposed in said controlling unit, and said memory is provided a built-in program used for calculating and determining said voltage threshold valve.
 5. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 4, wherein said built-in program is a sample variation method, a method of calculating average value after eliminating extreme values, an average method, a matrix method or a comparing method, which is used for processing digital data so as to calculate and determine said voltage threshold valve.
 6. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power input unit is a Micro USB 5V DC power source, and said second voltage level is DC 6˜12V
 7. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 3, wherein said power output unit is a USB Type A connector.
 8. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 1, further including a combing base, at least one thread is formed at a front end of said combing base, thereby allowing said storage bag to be screwed and fastened in said first hole.
 9. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicating unit is a light emitting diode unit capable of emitting various colors of light.
 10. The storage bag air extractor having the monitoring function as claimed in claim 1, wherein further including a printed circuit board, disposed in said housing, and used for allowing said power input unit, said power switch, said voltage boosting circuit, said current detecting unit, said controlling unit, said motor switch and said indicating unit to be disposed thereon. 